Projectile



i H Patented Aug. 7, 1923.

ii i 1 against aircraft ofall types the primary object being to provide a projectile, having as: 'soclated means which will effect its explo- V JNETE D; S T

'i F C E JOHN c. DAYNIX', or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

- PROJECTILE.

7 Application filed January 22; 1923. Serial No. 614,217.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it lmown that I, JoHN C. DAYNIX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county'of Philadelphia .and State of Pennsylvania, have invented "sion whether or notthe hit be direct or Otherwise. in other words, I aim to provide an anti-aircraft pro ectile having means which'willeifect its explosion even i though the nose of said projectile should not impact with or make a direct hit; or more specifically defined, my novel projectile is devised for instantaneous explosion should it tangentially or glancingly pass in close juxtaposition to any part of an aeroplane,

dirigible or analogous form of aircraft.

lVith the foregoing fundamental object in view my invention essentially consists of a projectile having a series ofinwardly foldable or collapsible arms about its longitudina-l surface. said arms being adapted when the projectile leaves a gun muzzle to automatically spring outwards in angular relation thereto while their free hooked ends are given a half turn for a purpose later on explained.

In the further disclosure of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings constituting apart of this specification, and in which like character of reference designate the same or corresponding parts in all the views. 7 Figure 1 is a longitudinalsection through a projectile embodying one practical form of my invention with the collapsible arms indicated by full lines in the expanded or i open position.

F gure 2 1sa plan'view'of a detail member hereinafter more particularly referred tor i Figure 3 is a sectional detail plan taken at the upper end of the explosive containing compartment; and

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4*4 n recording tomy invention and as shown in the drawings. the numeral 1 designates the shell of an anti-aircraft projectile, the ,same being tubular to provide an explosive containing compartment 2, a hollow nose :compartmentB, and a rear end chamber 4 fora purpose later on explained. The forward end of the explosive containing compartment is closed in by an appropriate plug while the rear end is separated from ;the chamber 4 by a plug 6. The explosive chargeis designated by the numeral 7 and it may; be of any suitable character, while theaforesaid'plugs .5, 6 are axially 'connectcd'by a longitudinal tube 8 that serves as a'conduit for a purpose hereafter explained.

'Longitndinal of the outer face of the aforesaid shell 1 are a plurality of diametrically opposed grooves or channels 9 in the for ward ends whereof are'transverse pins 10 that serve as hinges members for the forward tubular portions 11 of radially collapsible arms 12. Each of these radially collapsible arms 12 includes the aforesaid tubular portion 11, a second or rear tubular portion 13 securely connected thereinto, and an inner slightly telescopic rod 14 extend ing substantially the entire length of said arm. To the other end of the rod 14 there 'is attached hooked claw 15 formed with a tion 11, said spring 17 having one end secured to a collar 18 and the other end abutting the forward end of the rear tubular part 13, and in order to provide for the aforesaid half turn movement, I secure within the tubular portion 11 a sleeve 19 having an extended'tongue portion 20 of slightly less than half its diameter, with which cooperates a pin 21 projecting radially from the rod 14. Thus it will be readily understood that when the hooked claws 15 are given a half turn or havetheir points inwardly directed-as when collapsingthe arms 12-there will be exerted a torsional strain upon the springs 17. The forward end of each rod 14' is fitted with a 'contact shoe 22 and each said rod is adapted for a-limited longitudinal movement as later on explained;

When collapsing the arms 12 into the aforesaid longitudinal grooves or channels 9 itii's to be noted that the hooked claws 15 are :givenza'half turn inwards so that they ther, it is tobe seen that the outer end of the latch 25 is ted with a head piece or nut 28 withwhich coopera es a radially disposed spring lnfluenced latch 29 mounted within the aforementioned plug 2%.. Now it will be clearly apparent that when the charge at the back of the projectile is fired the force ofits explosion will impel the latch forward whereupon the radial latch 29 will be sprung at the back or outer end of the head vpiece or nut: 28 thus freeing the collapsible arms 12 wh ch will be automatically sprung outwards'as hereafter explained.

Referr ng once again to the nose compart- 'me'nt 3,it will be seen that it is closed in at its outer end by an. end piece 30 having a counter bore'31 in which isfreely fitted a tube 32'having an; enlarged endi33, said tub-c serving to house the firing pin 34 that is under the action ofa compression spring '35 which normally tends to retain said pin outwardly projected as shown. Exteri orly concentric with aforesaid tube is a second tube 36 which is screwed or otherwise secured at 37 into the nose compartment 7 end iece 3 and said tube serves as a uide for the enlarged head 33 as well as housing an expansion spring 38.. Integral with or fitted-through the enlarged head 33 are aplurality of radially directed U-shaped n'xembers 39, the limbs 40 whereof are outward or forwardly directed relative to the longitudinal axis of the projectile. V

Each of the hereinbefore described tubular portions 11 is fashioned with an integral and inwardly directed arm 41 havinga toe- 42 for cooperation with the enlarged head '33, and it will thus be readily seen that when the collapsible arms 12 are closed into the longitudinal :groovcs or channels 9 in the shell 1, the aforesaid toes 42 will force the enlarged head 33 and tube 32 outwardly in opposition'to the spring 38. On the other hand when the collapsible arms 12 are re leased as hereinbefore set forth, thespring 38'will automatically force or rock the said arms 12 outwards through the cooperation of the enlarged head 33 with the toes 42 of the arms ll as will be readily understood bythose acquainted with the art. I

To provide an automatic means for exploding theprojectile when a direct hit is made; or when one of the'collapsible arms 12 t by one 01 more of its hooked claws 13, I employ a within therear chamber 'said battery 43 being provided with acentral binding post 011 361"; iinal and a plurality of outer binding posts or terminals 45 in number equal to the nu. ber of the collapsible arms 12. A conducting wire orwires l3 leads from the central binding post or terminal-44through sulation block a3 and the axiallylon- 1 tube 8 and its or their free ends toprovideleads 457, 48, the i which is hooked over the freeend or one of the limbs 4001' an U-shaped member 39 to provide a contact 49 while the latter conducted into the aligning :arm 41 to furnish a contact-50 in normal engagement with contactshoe 2-2 on the inner end of 14-. A return wire 51 leadsfrom en ai gles or engages the object aimed at h the tube 8 forward plug 5, into and through fusible charge 52, thence i -to one the arms ell-where it is terminatedin contact piece 53. Now it will be perfectly clear that in the event of a direct hit? by the firing pin 34, a circuit willbe closed thror-h all ofthe fusible charges 52 by the engagement'of the contacts 49, 50;

and. siiui. lapsible t 1 ly when one orniore of the colinent of the contact shoe 22 with the t piece 53. V 4 'rom the f regoing it will be readily seen t by'iny invention I have provided a very ctive anti-aircraft projectile that willbe l very ellective in use. Furthermore, ng the collapsible arms 12 as set "forts, a and sane means is provided whereby pI'OJfiCtllG of the type described 7 carelessly exploded.

@bvionsly when the projectile is to be fired from a rifled gun, the collapsible arm claws 15 will bedisposed at, right-angles storage battery l3 that is housed the outer binding posts or termi-,

ms 12 are extended by the en-V like circuit will be closed by the r relative to the longitudinal aXis of said; 7

arms. 1 i V While there has been shown and described one. practical embodiment of'my invention it will be obvious that same is capable of variedmod fications therefore the right is hereby: reserved to make such reasonable changes as fairly lie within the scope-and intentbf the subjoined'claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let-- ters Patent, is: r V

' 1. if-l projectile having a series of inwardly foldable arms about its outer surface, latching means for-normally retaining said'fold able arms housed in the wall of the projectile, said latching means being released by the firing charge to free the foldable arms,

and means "operable by the firing pin" or aforesaid foldable arms to eflect the eXplo- .sion of'the' projectile.

2, A" projectile having a series of angularly expansible arms hingedly mounted at lat-chin means being released b the firin g o y a charge to free the 'expansible arms, and means operable by the firing pin or aforesaid expanslble arm hooked claws to effect the explosion of the projectile.

, A projectile having a series of opposed 'expan'sible arms hinged "atjtheir forward ends n thefrontal partofsaid pIOjBCUlG, torsio'nally' influenced telescopic hooked claws adapted for a half-turn at the rear ends of the expansible arms, latching means for en gag ng the hookednclaws when lnwardly turned for retaining the aforesaid expansible arms normallyhoused in corresponding grooves in the wall of the projectile, said latching means being released by the firing: charge to free the expansible arms, and means operable by the firing pin or aforesaid expansible arm hooked claws to effect the explosion of the projectile.

V 4. A projectile having a series of diametrically opposed angularly expansible tubular arms hinged at their forward ends in the frontal part of said projectile, torsionall influenced telescopic rods adapted for a half-turn in saidtubular arms and having hooked claws at their outer ends,

' latching means being released by the firing charge to free the expansible tubular arms, and means operableby the firing pin or any one of the aforesaid tubular arm hooked claws for electrically effecting the explosion of the projectile.

5. A projectile having a series of diametrically opposed angularly expansible tubular arms hinged at their forward ends in :the nose of said projectile, torsionally influenced telescopic rods adapted for a halfturn in said tubular arms and having hooked claws at their outer ends, latch members projecting from the back ofsaid hooked claws,

spring influenced retaining means for cooperation with the latch members for holding the aforesaid expansible arms normally seated in longitudinal grooves in the wall of the projectile, said retaining means being released by the firing charge, a spring influenced latch" for holding the retaining means in its forward position to free the expansible tubular arms, and means operable by the firing pin or any one of the aforesaid 'tubulari arm hooked claws for electrically effecting the explosion of the projectile.

6; A projectile havinga series of diametrically opposed angularly expansible tubular arms hinged at their forward ends in the nose of said projectile, torsionally influenced telescopic rods adapted for a halfturn in said tubular arms and having hooked claws at their outer ends, latch members projecting fromthe back of said hooked claws, spring influenced retaining means for cooperation with the latch members for holding the aforesaid expansible arms normally seated in longitudinal grooves in the wall of the projectile, said retaining means being re leased by the firing charge, a spring influenced latch for holding the retaining means in its forward position toffree the expansible tubular arms, a spring influenced firing pin in the nose of the. projectile, having forwardly directed contact supporting members in line with the aforesaid tubular arms, heel portions at the hinged ends of the tubular arms for cooperation with the inner headed end of the firing pin to close an electric circuit from an enclosed storage battery through a fusible charge when a direct hit is made,'and supplemental circuit closing means actuable by any one of the aforesaid tubular arm hooked claws for also closing said electric circuit and therebyeffecting the explosion of the projectile.

7. A projectile having a series of diametrically opposed angularly expansihle tubular arms hinged at their forward ends in the nose of said projectile, torsionallyin fluenced telescopic rods adapted for halfturn in said tubular arms and having hooked claws at their outer ends, latch members projecting from the'back of said hooked claws, spring influenced retaining means for cooperation with the latch members for holding the aforesaid expansible arms normally seated in longitudinal grooves in the wall of the projectile, said'retaining means enclosed storage battery through a fusible charge to explode the projectile when a direct hit is made, and supplemental contact members adapted to close said electric circuit whenever any one of the aforesaid Lil at their outer ends said firin in and-telescopicrods when longitudinally moved effecting the closure of the electric circuit through the fusible charges to explode the projectile, and latching nieansfor normal 1y holding the aforesaid tubular arms collapsed into corresponding grooves in the a projectile body.

9. In an anti-aircraft projectiieinciuding a source of electric energy, a circuit closable through charges fusible thereby, and a spring influenced firing pin for effectin the closure of said electric circuit When a direct hit is made, the combination ofdiametrically opposed angularly expansible tubular arms hinged at their forward ends in. the nose of said projectile, torsionally influenced telescopic rods adapted for a halfturn fitted in said tubular arms and fashioned with claw shapedouter ends, said claw shaped outer ends having latch members extending therefrom, spring influenced means for norn'ialiyholding the aforesaid tubular arms collapsed into the shell of the projectile by engagement With the latch members, and contact shoes at the inner ends of the telescopic rods for closing the aforesaid circuit when any one of said rods is extended by the engagement of its claw in the air craft fired at. i

10. In an anti-aircraft projectile includ ing a source ofelectric energy, a circuit ing 'closable through said source of electricenergy and charges fusible thereby, and a spring influenced firing pin for effecting the closing of said circuit when a direct hit is made, the combination of diametrically opposed a-ngularly expansible tubular arms hinged at their forward endsin the projectile nose, torsionally influenced telescopic rods'fitted in said tubular arms and having claw-shaped outer ends provided'ivith rearwardly projecting latch members, means for member for preventing the recoil of the locking member Whenreleased, and contact shoes at the innerends of the telescopic rods for closing the aforesaid circuit when any one of thetelescoplc rods 15 extended by the engagement of its claw in the air craft fired at.

11. In an a-nti air craft projectile includa source of electric energy, ajcircuit closable through said source of electricenergy and a charge fusible thereby, and diametrically opposed angularly expansible telescopic arms adapted to close said circuit Whenever the free hooked end of any one of said arms engageswith the aircraft lired at, the combination ofa firing pin 1n JOHN C. D AYNIX. 

